MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ASBESTOS

Stereoscan electron microscope studies and measurements of tensile strength and Young's modulus have been made on chrysotile and five naturally-occurring fibrous amphiboles. The effect of heat on the modulus and fracture mechanism has also been examined. With the exception of tremolite which has a different microstructure from the remaining amphiboles, the moduli and strengths were similar. The loss of strength which occurs when the fibrous amphiboles, and to a lesser extent, chrysotile are heated below their decomposition temperature is shown to be due to an increase in interfibrillar bonding causing the material to become notch-sensitive © 1969 Chapman and Hall.